Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of Faith

If we believe that God is actively seeking to communicate with us (see Loving God 101, Part 1 and Part 3), then we would be wise to go the places where we know God's voice is loudest. We've already examined some of these (e.g., sacraments, acts of compassion and service to others). But the place where God's […]

Love is learned by experience. I often think of it as osmosis – absorbing from the environment. In other words, if we want to love, we must begin by being regularly in the presence of love to let it have its effect on us. Understanding this has many implications for the relationships we form, the […]

For most of Christian history, the central element of both corporate worship and individual prayer has been regular participation in the sacrament of Communion. Indeed, the Roman Catholic mass still centers on the Eucharist (as the Lord's Supper is also called) as the priest consecrates the elements of bread and wine and invites the people of God […]

Learning to "hear" God's voice (i.e., "discernment") actually begins by learning what is not God's voice. That is to say, each of us arrives to our relationship with God with many voices in our head – the voices of our family, our culture, our friends…the voice of Reason, of our deepest hopes, our deepest fears. Indeed, […]

For most of us "confession" does not sound like a very liberating idea. For me it used to conjure images of self-loathing, as I enumerated my sins with with heaps of guilt on the side. (Martin Luther was plagued by such feelings early in his life – often returning to confession right after he left […]

Healthy progress in any aspect of our lives requires that we pause from time to time and take an honest examination of our present state. But in a culture of constant comparison and competition, such exercises often only serve to dispirit and magnify our sense of dissatisfaction with ourselves. In this episode we examine the […]

John Sauer, a friend of the host and an aspiring Presbyterian minister, dives deep into the concept of sacred time in this enlightening conversation. He discusses practical ways to integrate sacredness into daily life, challenging conventional views of Sabbath observance. Sauer highlights the significance of rituals like Kaddish and explores how personal struggles with sacred time can lead to deeper spiritual connections. The dialogue emphasizes transforming chaotic moments into opportunities for divine connection, showcasing the beauty of a faith-driven perspective on time.

One of the great struggles in the life of faith is the sense that God is vastly distant. We may talk about "intimacy" and "relationship" and "making contact." But in day-to-day experience, it feels like we do a good bit of talking to God, and God rarely talks back. Yes, we have been given the […]

What does an authentic, intimate relationship with God "feel" like? That is to say: What are we aiming for as we grow to love God? What should a mature Christian expect to experience when connection to God has been achieved? (An important question, as our answer will direct our behavior and shape our sense of "progress.") […]

This is the first in a long series on the work of Christian spiritual formation. That is to say: of the process by which we grow to maturity in Christ. And to do this we take an in-depth look at what the Bible has to say about the goal and process of spiritual growth, as […]